On July 27 or 28, NBA superstars LeBron James, his long-time business partner Maverick Carter, and Nikola Jokić’s European agent, Miško Ražnatović, gathered aboard a yacht off Saint‑Tropez, France. The photo, shared by Raznatović on Instagram with the caption “The summer of 2025 is the perfect time to make big plans for the fall of 2026!”, sparked global speculation. Multiple outlets later confirmed their conversation focused not on trades or team moves, but on building a new international basketball league backed by Carter.
❝Not about Lakers or Nuggets❞
Contrary to early assumptions of possible superteam arrangements (e.g. LeBron to Denver or Jokic to L.A.), sources report the meeting was centered on the proposed league. James is no longer simply a passive figure: insiders tell Front Office Sports that although he wasn’t originally part of the initiative in early 2025, his involvement may now be “more than peripheral.”
League Vision: Touring Model, Both Men’s & Women’s Teams
Since a January Bloomberg report, the vision has been clear: a global league aiming to raise US$5 billion, featuring six men’s and six women’s teams that travel and compete in up to eight cities worldwide, much like Formula One or LIV Golf. Players are expected to receive team equity, a major differentiator from current NBA rules.
Unlike Unrivaled’s schedule—which allows dual WNBA participation—this venture would likely require full-time commitment, meaning NBA teams would need to waive players for participants.
Financial Backers and Strategic Partners
The league has attracted support from a high-powered consortium, including Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (a major investor in LIV Golf), the Singapore government, SC Holdings, UBS, tech investor Geoff Prentice (co-founder of Skype), and former Facebook executive Grady Burnett. The Financial Times notes these investors remain closely tied to C‑suite and sovereign sources.
Raznatović’s participation is critical: his Balkan agency BeoBasket represents dozens of top European and NBA-affiliated players (including Ivica Zubac), giving the project access to global talent networks.
A Global Challenge — Not Just to NBA, But to EuroLeague
The timing coincides with the NBA’s own drive to establish a European league. In March, Commissioner Adam Silver and LeBronDeputy Commissioner Mark Tatum met with UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, and the NBA has already scheduled games in London and Berlin for January 2026. However, the Carter‑backed venture would differ in structure, scope, and financial freedom.
The EuroLeague, currently the top club competition in Europe, has expressed concern that such expansion—whether from the NBA or a rival startup—could fragment the European basketball market. Its CEO Paulius Motiejūnas told The Athletic, “we don’t believe that the new league is something that would help the market.”
Implications for Players and the NBA
- Equity-based compensation may reshape how superstars think about career value.
- The requirement to commit full-time suggests no crossover with NBA players, at least under current CBA rules; changing this would need league cooperation. NBA veteran Jaylen Brown has previously called for easing ownership restrictions for active players.
- LeBron’s involvement adds legitimacy, and gives the league access to both his global brand and Carter’s sports-business clout. Bloomberg and Front Office Sports suggest LeBron may be contemplating more active participation beyond lending credibility.
What Comes Next
- The league aims for a fall 2026 launch window, per Raznatović’s post tagline.
- Next steps include finalizing funding, announcing branding, securing venues, and recruiting talent—exacts that have yet to be confirmed.
- All indications suggest that LeBron could be a central promoter or partner, rather than just a sideline figure. Jokić’s agent provides leverage in elite European talent markets.
- The NBA’s response—via its own planned European expansion—will be telling. A direct competitor led by league legends like LeBron (and supported by top investors) would mark a seismic shift in how professional basketball is organized and monetized.
Bottom Line
This meeting on a French yacht appears less about trading players and more about designing a new system: a $5 billion, globally touring basketball league that offers full-time engagement and player equity—potentially led by two of the sport’s most influential power players in Carter and James, with Raznatović’s European influence as a linchpin. The NBA and EuroLeague are already watching closely.
